Building a Mini-ITX
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- Zarathud
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- Location: Chicago, Illinois
Building a Mini-ITX
The server box we currently use for the kid's computer is chugging along horribly (probably because the old 1GB RAM has been woefully inadequate for years). I'm building a $500 box around the BitFenix Prodigy case and mini-ITX form factor:
The goal is to get a machine that can serve as a file backup and run LEGO, SEGA Sonic Racing and other kid games. A power gaming system is not required, and later upgrades are expected. Before watching Starship Troopers on Rifftrax with hepcat, I went with this:
Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI
Intel Core i3-4130 (3M Cache, 3.40 GHz)
Kingston 8GB HyperX (PC3-12800) CL9
Gigabite Geforce GTX 650 Ti
LG Blu-ray with DVD Burner
WD Blue 500GB SATA
Corsair CX430M
At the last minute, I decided to lower the Wattage on the Power Supply because I leave this box turned on all of the time and the Intel i3 really does have a lower power draw. The video card is overkill for a 6 year old running on a spare 1050p monitor.
The goal is to get a machine that can serve as a file backup and run LEGO, SEGA Sonic Racing and other kid games. A power gaming system is not required, and later upgrades are expected. Before watching Starship Troopers on Rifftrax with hepcat, I went with this:
Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI
Intel Core i3-4130 (3M Cache, 3.40 GHz)
Kingston 8GB HyperX (PC3-12800) CL9
Gigabite Geforce GTX 650 Ti
LG Blu-ray with DVD Burner
WD Blue 500GB SATA
Corsair CX430M
At the last minute, I decided to lower the Wattage on the Power Supply because I leave this box turned on all of the time and the Intel i3 really does have a lower power draw. The video card is overkill for a 6 year old running on a spare 1050p monitor.
Last edited by Zarathud on Fri Sep 13, 2013 2:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
"A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on." -Terry Pratchett, The Truth
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"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
- Daehawk
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
Started to say you could go cheaper on the video card.
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- Zarathud
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
I went with only a 1GB video card, so the price was $125 in-store. It's pretty small and runs a larger fan. I was only going to spend $75 on a NVIDIA card, but I started to get worried about the SEGA Sonic Racing -- one of the kid's favorite games. Its power draw is pretty small and overall ratings are great for its category, so I bent the budget a little.
"A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on." -Terry Pratchett, The Truth
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
- Daehawk
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
heh its gunny how fast stuff changed. I got my GTX 560ti 1g card in 2011 and it was like $250. I think that one you got it about the same as mine and cost so much less Damn tech lol.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
Im a bilingual. A bilingual illiterate. I can't read in two languages.
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
Im a bilingual. A bilingual illiterate. I can't read in two languages.
- LawBeefaroni
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
I build a bunch of Shuttle mini-ITX boxes back in the day. They all eventually died because of the PSU. Just too small.
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- Zarathud
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
The video card market is strange. I am also running a 560 Ti that's 2 years old and its ratings are still 25-30% faster than the 650 Ti. The power requirements of the new card is around 1/2 the older one, I believe.
The new system replaces an old Shuttle style box, and I'm impressed with how 4 more inches of height really matters for the layout.
The upgrade for my machine is going to be a 500 Gig Samsung EVO SDD. I just have to work out the data transfer from my boot drive to avoid a system reinstall.
The new system replaces an old Shuttle style box, and I'm impressed with how 4 more inches of height really matters for the layout.
The upgrade for my machine is going to be a 500 Gig Samsung EVO SDD. I just have to work out the data transfer from my boot drive to avoid a system reinstall.
"A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on." -Terry Pratchett, The Truth
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
- Zarathud
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
double tap
"A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on." -Terry Pratchett, The Truth
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
- Cylus Maxii
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
I got a nice 650ti to upgrade my son's older Shuttle SFF box. It was a big step up from the 8800GT. He loves it.
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- Isgrimnur
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
The top 'decade' of each 'century' number are better cards than the bottom 'decade' of the higher 'century'. Click the link for a visual representation from GeForce themselves.
It's almost as if people are the problem.
- AWS260
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
How did the build go? I am thinking of accelerating my build-a-new-rig plans, since my current box recently had a serious brain fart that required a clean Windows installation to fix. I'd like to go mini-ITX, just for funsies.
- Zarathud
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
Lovely case, very easy to work inside, except you need space on the right for USB plugs. I ended up getting a fan power converter for the third fan. Runs very quietly but I have to make sure the kids don't put stuff underneath -- the PSU vents in from the raised bottom.
I would recommend making sure you use the Windows 7 64 bit DVD rather than throwing in the first disc you find -- for the full 8 GB memory. Completely forgot about that issue!
I would recommend making sure you use the Windows 7 64 bit DVD rather than throwing in the first disc you find -- for the full 8 GB memory. Completely forgot about that issue!
"A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on." -Terry Pratchett, The Truth
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
- Zarathud
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
Should have said you need space OUTSIDE the side of the case for USB ports.
"A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on." -Terry Pratchett, The Truth
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it." -Terry Pratchett, Monstrous Regiment
- AWS260
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- coopasonic
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- AWS260
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
It's been four years since my last build, and I'm getting the itch...
- ColdSteel
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
It's a terrible time to build a new box. Video card prices are insane thanks to the bitcoin mining asshats. I just had my old one die and almost died myself of sticker shock when shopping for a replacement. I ended up paying 50% more than I would have for the same card in back 2016. Ram prices are also insane right now.
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- AWS260
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- Hamlet3145
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
- AWS260
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
It has a handle!
- Blackhawk
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
"Does not occupy desktop space, is a beautiful decoration on the desktop."
It's an inside-out Tardis!
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- Hamlet3145
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
- Blackhawk
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
Nice. My first thought on seeing it was that it was full of poker chips. It's not ugly - but it's also not a decoration.
What doesn't kill me makes me stranger.
- AWS260
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
Well, it's happening.
Apparently there's something called cable management that I really ought to look up.
Apparently there's something called cable management that I really ought to look up.
- coopasonic
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
Seriously just looking at that picture stresses me out.
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- Hamlet3145
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Re: Building a Mini-ITX
I got my s400 case last week and dig it. Better quality that I expected for the price, to be honest. Now to wait for some sales on the rest of the parts lol. I'm going to be recycling my 6700xt for a GPU, but everthing else will be bought new. I'll be going with a Ryzen 5 7600 for the CPU and 32gb of DDR5 RAM.